German Politician Proposes Minimum Earnings Requirement for Refugees' Residency

CDU's Thorsten Frei argues that refugees must earn enough to secure pensions above basic welfare to qualify for permanent residency in Germany.

Thorsten Frei, a senior CDU politician, has called for linking refugees' permanent residency in Germany to a minimum income threshold.
Frei suggested that refugees must earn enough to ensure their pensions exceed basic welfare levels, emphasizing self-sufficiency as a key criterion.
He expressed concerns that many Syrian refugees in Germany work low-paying jobs, lack formal education, and cannot adequately support families or secure retirement funds.
Frei also stated that refugees should leave Germany when crises in their home countries subside, warning that prolonged stays could reduce public support for future asylum cases.
Over 300,000 Syrians in Germany currently hold temporary protection due to the civil war, but Frei acknowledged that organizing returns to Syria would be a significant challenge.